USAF 428th TFS
In July 1955 the former 428th Bomber Squadron, equipped with North American F-100D Super Sabre (or HUN), was re-designated 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron “Buccaneers” at Cannon AFM, New Mexico.
The squadron was next deployed to Okinawa in 1960 and twice at Incirlick AB in Turkey during 1961-1963, then at Aviano AB, Italy in 1964 and Takhli RTAFB, Thailand before being sent to South Vietnam from November 1964 to March 1965 at Da Nang AB as part of the 23rd Air Base Group under Temporary Duty (TDY) status.
Initially the Buccaneers flew cover missions (MIGCAP/RESCAP) for F-105D flights to North Vietnam but later switched to ground support activity against Pathet Lao forces in Laos.
F-100D squadrons were involved already in South East Asia as soon as 1961 under “Bell Tone” and “Saw Buck” operations, providing air defence alert during the Laotian crisis from the Thai Air Bases of Don Muang Airport and Takhli RTAFB, being rotaded later as TDY in South Vietnam.
The 428th TFS eventually returned to Takhli RTAFB in 1968 after the transition to the General Dynamics F-111 Aardwark.
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The depicted 428th TFS pilots are wearing a mixture of early 1960s survival gear, namely a modified C-1 Survival Vest which buttons have been replaced with a zipper, and SRU-19 Survival Chaps worn over the standard K-2B Flight Suit .
During the early stages of the Vietnam and Laos operations the standardization of survival gear was not to be developed yet by USAF and squadrons had to rely on own field experiences and ready available gear.
This 510th TFS “Hun” pilot is an example of early South East Asia F-100D pilot’s gear.
Apart the squadron purple- coloured beret, the man is wearing a blue Radio Carrier Vest modified as a Survival Vest.
The 510th TFS was TDY stationed at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Saigon during 1964 and flew “Yankee Team” escort for RF-101C Voodoo recon missions.
Beginning with 1957, U.S. pilots were issued with the standard Jet Pilot Survival Knife (JPSK). Initially produced by Marble Co. and later by Camillus factory of New York with a 6 inches blade, the length was reduced in 1962 to 5 inches. A sharpening stone was contained in the sheath pocket.
These 428th TFS HGU-2/P flight helmets are named to Capt Hall and Capt Russell. Both visors covers are decorated almost identically by hand-painting the Buccaneers insignia and the flags of the countries visited by the squadron during the 1962-1965 time frame (Turkey, Italy Philippines, Republic of Vietnam and Thailand).
SRU-19 SURVIVAL CHAPS
The USAF SRU-19/P were developed during the early 1960’s and were tailored to hold all the necessary survival items including cal.38 revolver and pilot survival knife.
The chaps pair was attached to a belt around the waist and legs, and could be turned in a sort of vest once the pilot reached ground.
VEST, RADIO CARRIER (MODIFIED)
The E-1 VEST, RADIO CARRIER was developed during the Korea war as a survival vest tailored to hold an AN/URC-4 survival radio and spare battery.
It was made of blue or green Nylon. Later many E-1s were field-modified in survival vests until the arrival of the common SRU-21/P Mesh Survival Vest.
C-1 EMERGENCY SUSTENANCE VEST (MODIFIED)
The C-1 vest was developed during WW2 and can be considered as the first effort to manufacture a standard Survival Vest for both ARMY and NAVY.
The C-1 was used during the Korean war and in the first stages of the Vietnam conflict. Several pockets arrangements could be find and usually the pockets were stencilled with the intended contain.
Before the arrival of the SRU-21/P Survival Vest in 1966, some C-1 models were upgraded by replacing the buttons with a zipper.
MA-2 UNDERARM LIFE PRESERVER
The 2-cells, CO2 inflatable MA-2 and MA-2A underarm Life Preserver was issued in replacement of the old B-5 Life Preserver. Around 1960 this type was replaced with LPU-2/ Life Preserver, very similar but thinner.
This item would be used primary by USAF and US ARMY, but during the Vietnam War some US NAVY and USMC units adopted it in replacement of the cumbersome USN MK-3C Life Preserver.
.428th TFS pilot Capt Steve Altick.
